Shaving-head assembly

ABSTRACT

A shaving-head assembly which is actuated by one drive shaft, with shear plates that are capable of having their angular positions varied relative to the drive shaft by the use of gimbal rings from which these shear plates are suspended. Spring biased cutters cooperatively engage with the shear plates to cut facial hair.

United States Patent Zuurveen [451 Apr. 18, 1972 [54] SHAVING-HEAD ASSEMBLY [56] References Cited [72] Inventor: Frans Zuurveen, Emmasingel, Eindhoven, UNITED STATES PATENTS Netherlands 2,952,908 9/1960 Starre ..30/43.5

[73] Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation, New York, N.Y.

- Primary Examiner-Francis S. l-lusar [22] Flled' June 1970 Assistant Examiner-Gary L. Smith [21] Appl. No.: 50,824 Attorney-Frank R. Trifari [30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] h d b ABST:ACT

A shavingea assem ly whic is actuated by one drive shaft,

July 4, 1969 Netherlands ..69l0273 with shear plates that are bl of having their angular positions varied relative to the drive shaft by the use of gimbal [52] U.S.Cl ..30/346.5l rings f which these Shear lates are suspended. Spring [51] Int. Cl ..B26b 19/04 biased cutters cooperatively engage with the shear plates to [58] Field of Search ..30/43.1, 43.4, 43.5, 43.6, Cmfacia1hai,

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Q97 E ww a: 3 3 u N U d: m s 46 14 37 f 12 13 g 22 & 20 47 35 35 ll 34 wg PATENTEDAPR 18 I972 3, 656, 235

32 30 27 16 5 17 .23. 26' 1s 3 Z U INVENTOR. FRANS zuunvsgu AGENT PATENTEDAPR 18 1972 SHEET 2 BF 2 IN'VENTOR. FRANS ZUURVEEN AGEN SHAVING-HEAD ASSEMBLY The invention relates to a shaving-head assembly in a dryshaving apparatus, which assembly is actuated by one driving shaft and comprises at least one shaving head which is adapted to be depressed substantially axially with respect to the driving shaft against spring action. The shear plate is provided with hair passage apertures, and has its angular position variable relative to the driving shaft.

A shaving-head assembly of this type is known. In a practical embodiment of this known shaving-head assembly, the cutter member (resiliently maintained in engagement with the shear plate) is movably connected to the driving shaft, and the shear plate is movable between two axially spaced stops. In known apparatus the pressure between the cutter member and the shear plate, during use, with the shear plate not fully depressed, is substantially equal to the pressure with which the shear plate is maintained in engagement with the skin to be shaved; this pressure is not allowed to exceed a given value, because otherwise an unacceptable amount of frictional heat is generated between the cutter member and the shear plate, and accordingly experience shows that the shear plate is usually urged to its lower stop during shaving. Apparently the user appreciates a contact pressure between his skin and the shear plate which is higher than the pressure permissible between the cutter member and the shear plate. As a result, in the use of the known apparatus, the capability of the shear plate of taking up an inclined position relative to the driving shaft, is not realized. This is a disadvantage, because precisely owing to this property, the shear plate is capable of following the concave and convex shapes of the skin to be shaved, resulting in a continuous satisfactory contact between the shear plate and the skin.

It is an object of the present invention to eliminate this disadvantage, and the apparatus according to the invention is characterized to enhance this possibility of varying the angular position by the use of a gimbal ring which is resilient substantially axially with respect of the drive shaft and from which the shear plate is suspended. This variability is possible even in the maximum depressed positions of the shear plates in an axial direction parallel to the axis of the drive shaft.

The gimbal ring used is flexible so that the shear plate retains some mobility in the axial direction. However, this depressibility is limited so that even with increased contact pressure between the skin and the shear plate, the latter retains its property of being capable to take up an inclined position relative to the drive shaft. The degree of flexibility of the gimbal ring is such that when the shaving head is depressed in the direction of the drive shaft, an agreeable contact pressure between the skin and the shear plate is obtained. The maximum axial displacement of each shear plate relative to the adjacent member is chosen to be within the range from 1 to 2 mm.

An advantageous embodiment in which the assembly comprises at least two concentrically arranged shear plates of substantially U-section which are designed so as to form shear rings and are provided with shaving slots, is characterized in that the maximum tilting movement of each shear plate with respect to one of the adjacent members is limited by a stop provided on one of the adjoining side walls of the adjacent members. This prevents the shear plates from jamming owing to a possibly excessively intimate contact with the adjacent members.

The invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings of an embodiment, in which description further advantageous features will become apparent, while irrelevant component parts have been omitted.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of a component part, and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the spring used in the embodiment of FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a shaving-head holder 1, within which an assembly 2 of shaving heads is arranged. The shaving-head assembly 2 comprises four shaving heads 3, 4, 5 and 6, which each consist of a shear plate l5, 16, 17, and 18 cooperating with a cutter member 7, 8, 9 and 10, respectively. The shear plates 15, 16, 17 and 18 are constituted by concentrically arranged shear rings of substantially U-section, the part joining the limbs of the U being formed with shear slots. Each cutter member 7, 8, 9 and 10 comprises a blade-carrying holder part 11, 12, 13 and 14 having blades 30, 31, 32 and 33 respectively which are resiliently urged to the slotted portions of the shear plates 15, 16, 17 and 18. The blade-carrying holder parts 11, 12, 13 and 14 are supported and engaged by a spring system comprising springs 19, 20, 21 and 22 arranged in series. These series-arranged springs each comprise several, for example three, parallel-arranged springs (see FIG. 4). The series-arranged springs are supported by a holder plate 23, which is drivably coupled to a rotatable drive shaft 24. The springs of each group of parallel-arranged springs are coupled by an annular member 34, 35, 36 and 37 respectively which bears against a blade-carrying holder part and is rigidly connected thereto. Thus, for example, the annular member 34 bears against the blade-carrying holder part 11. As a result, the rotary drive of the holder blade 23 causes the annular members 34, 35, 36 and 37 to be driven and in turn to drive the blade-carrying holder parts I 1, l2, l3 and 14.

The shaving head 3 is coupled to the radially spaced shaving head holder 1 by means of a gimbal ring 26 fitted between these component parts. The flexible gimbal ring 26 is made of strip material of substantially rectangular cross-section. The substantially cylindrical wall 38 of the gimbal ring is provided with two pairs of radially extending diametrically opposite projections 39 and 40, which pairs are annularly displaced with respect to one another, one pair 39 being directed outwardly and the other pair 40 being directed inwardly with respect to the cylindrical wall 38, while each pair forms part of a pivoting axis about which the ring 26 is tiltable.

The projections may be in the form of studs (see FIG. 2) or of lugs (41 and 42) which have been stamped from the cylindrical wall 38 and may be supported by strip portions (not shown) also stamped from the cylindrical wall 38. The projections 39, 40, 41 and 42 co-operate with circular openings which have been formed in the adjoining walls of the members between which the ring is interposed and in which the projections are mounted for rotation.

Between the radially spaced shaving heads 3 and 4, and also between the radially spaced shaving heads 4 and 5, gimbal rings 27 and 28 respectively are interposed which are similar to the gimbal ring 26. The shear plates 17 and 18 of the centrally arranged shaving heads 5 and 6 are rigidly interconnected, and the inner sidewall of the shear plate 18 terminates in a central plate 29.

Since the gimbal rings 26, 27 and 28 are made of a flexible material, they are axially compressible. For each ring of the embodiment shown in the drawing, the axial deflection is from 1 to 2 mm., so that for example the :shaving head 5 is axially depressible through a distance of from 3 to 6 mm. relative to the shaving-head holder. The depressibility against the spring action results in an agreeable counter pressure on the skin.

The tilting displacement of the shear plates between which a gimbal ring is mounted is limited by stops 46 and 47 formed on one of the adjoining sidewalls of the members between which the ring is interposed. However, the axial distance between the stops 46 and 47 and the respective gimbal ring is made such as to permit a tilting movement of the respective shear plate, even in the case of maximum depression of the associated shaving head.

In each of the gimbal rings 26, 27 and 28, the annular wall 38 is formed between each pair of projections 40, 39 which succeed one another in a tangential direction (see FIG. 2) with at least two tangentially adjacent projections 44 and 45 which extend in opposite directions, the maximum radial distance between two projections 44 and 45 which succeed one another in a tangential direction being smaller than the clearance between the two adjacent members between which the respective ring is interposed.

Obviously, the invention is not restricted to the use in the afore-described embodiments. Several modifications are conceivable, also in respect of the shape of the shaving heads. Thus, for example, the central shear plate may be replaced by a central shear foil which is formed with shear openings and is stretched around a ring. Also, the shaving head 3 may be rigidly connected to the shaving-head holder 1, gimbal rings being interposed between the other shaving heads. Thus, many modifications are possible without affecting the essential features of the invention.

Iclaim:

1. In a dry-shaving apparatus including a casing for holding a shaving head assembly, the casing having a main axis, the assembly being at least one shaving head which comprises: a shear plate, a gimbal ring situated between and engaging said holder and said shear plate whereby the shear plate is tiltable to angular positions relative to said holder, and is axially depressible from high to low positions along said holder axis, spring means urging the shear plate toward said high position, the gimbal being resilient such that the shear plate is tiltable in all positions between high and low.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said gimbal is a ring element having a central longitudinal axis generally coincident with the holder axis and defining two diameters normal to each other and to said longitudinal axis, the shaving head further comprising first and second connection means extending radially along said two diameters respectively, the gimbal engaging said holder and shear plate via said first and second connection means respectively.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 where first connection means comprises a first pair of projections that extend radially inward from said ring element and the second connection means comprises a second pair of projections that extend radially outward from said ring element.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said shaving head is a first shaving head, the apparatus further comprising at least a second shaving head similar to the first shaving head and coaxial with and radially inward of said shaving head, the second shaving head including a second shear plate having parts thereof adjacent the first shear plate, a second gimbal situated between the engaging adjacent parts of said two shear plates.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein each shear plate is generally U-shaped in cross-section with the legs of the U defining a flange wall of said plate, each of said walls having a stop thereon, whereby tilting of said plates is limited when said stops of adjacent plates become engaged.

6. Apparatus according to claim I, wherein said axial displacement of the shear plate has a maximum distance of 2 mm.

7. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said gimbal ring comprises a strip of material formed into a circular band.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said projections are lugs stamped from said band.

9. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said holder and shear plate have apertures therein corresponding to and into which said projections extend. 

1. In a dry-shaving apparatus including a casing for holding a shaving head assembly, the casing having a main axis, the assembly being at least one shaving head which comprises: a shear plate, a gimbal ring situated between and engaging said holder and said shear plate whereby the shear plate is tiltable to angular positions relative to said holder, and is axially depressible from high to low positions along said holder axis, spring means urging the shear plate toward said high position, the gimbal being resilient such that the shear plate is tiltable in all positions between high and low.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said gimbal is a ring element having a central longitudinal axis generally coincident with the holder axis and defining two diameters normal to each other and to said longitudinal axis, the shaving head further comprising first and second connection means extending radially along said two diameters respectively, the gimbal engaging said holder and shear plate via said first and second connection means respectively.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 where first connection means comprises a first pair of projections that extend radially inward from said ring element and the second connection means comprises a second pair of projections that extend radially outward from said ring element.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said shaving head is a first shaving head, the apparatus further comprising at least a second shaving head similar to the first shaving head and coaxial with and radially inward of said shaving head, the second shaving head including a second shear plate having parts thereof adjacent the first shear plate, a second gimbal situated between and engaging adjacent parts of said two shear plates.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein each shear plate is generally U-shaped in cross-section with the legs of the U defining a flange wall of said plate, each of said walls having a stop thereon, whereby tilting of said plates is limited when said stops of adjacent plates become engaged.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wHerein said axial displacement of the shear plate has a maximum distance of 2 mm.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said gimbal ring comprises a strip of material formed into a circular band.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said projections are lugs stamped from said band.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said holder and shear plate have apertures therein corresponding to and into which said projections extend. 